System and method for obtaining equipment status data over a network

• US 20060193456A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robelight LLC
• Inventors: Roberts, Jon L., Light, Elliott D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,529,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23178 Display status of currently selected controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/105 Financial transactions and auctions, e.g. bidding auctioneering devices in packet switching networks H04L12/1804
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 : where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 : Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 : Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A system and method for equipment status data over a network. Equipment adapted for reporting status data indicative of the status of the equipment is connected to a first network A status file connected to the first network receives the status data from the equipment over the first network. A second network is connected to the status file and to a processor. The processor comprises instructions for accessing the status file over the second network, acquiring the status data from the status file, and processing the status data. Based on the processed status data, the processor may take action to control a device or issue an alert. The action taken by the processor is determined by instructions selected by a user of the processor or the equipment.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining equipment status data over a network comprising:

equipment adapted for reporting status data indicative of the status of the equipment;

a first network connected to the equipment for receiving the status data from the equipment;

a status file connected to the first network for receiving the status data from the equipment over the first network;

a second network connected to the status file;

a processor connected to the second network, the processor comprising instructions for;

accessing the status file over the second network;

acquiring the status data from the status file; and

processing the status data.

2. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1 wherein, the first network and the second network are selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, packet switched network a cable network, a wireless network, and a wired network.

3. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1 wherein, the first network is a local area network and the second network is selected from the group consisting of the PSTN, packet switched network a cable network, a wireless network, and the Internet.

4. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the equipment is security monitoring equipment adapted to monitor the security of a space, wherein the status data are indicative of a breach of security, and wherein the instructions for processing the status data comprise instructions for issuing an alert.

5. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the equipment is security monitoring equipment adapted to monitor the security of a space, wherein the status data are indicative of a breach of security, and wherein the instructions for processing the status data comprise instructions for illuminating the space.

6. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the equipment is visual imaging equipment, wherein the status data are indicative of a current field of view of the imaging device, and wherein the instructions for processing the status data comprise instructions for changing the current field of view.

7. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 6, wherein the instructions for changing the current field of view comprise one or more commands selected from the group consisting of pan left, pan right, pan up, pan down, zoom in, zoom out, and focus.

8. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the equipment is HVAC equipment, wherein the status data are indicative of a thermostat setting, and where in the instructions for processing the data status data comprise instructions for adjusting the thermostat setting.

9. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 8, wherein the instructions for adjusting the thermostat setting comprise instructions for increasing the thermostat setting.

10. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 8, wherein the instructions for adjusting the thermostat setting comprise instructions for decreasing the thermostat setting.

11. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the status data are indicative of a usage of a machine, and wherein the instructions for processing the status data comprise instructions for compiling a usage report over a period of time.

12. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the status data are indicative of the operational state of a machine, and wherein the instructions for processing the status data comprise instructions for determining whether the machine requires maintenance.

13. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the equipment comprises a telephone, and wherein the status data are indicative of the off-hook state of the telephone.

14. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the equipment comprises a telephone, and wherein the status data are indicative of the on-hook state of the telephone.

15. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein:

the equipment comprises a telephone;

the status file is associated with a telephone number assigned to the telephone;

the status data are indicative of a change in a hook state of the telephone; and

the instructions for processing the status data further comprise instructions for dialing the telephone number when the hook state changes from an off-hook state to an on-hook state.

16. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the instructions are selected by a user of the processor.

17. The system for obtaining equipment status over a network of claim 1, wherein the instructions are selected by a user of the equipment.